Lunch time meeting - ZOOM Talk from Malcolm Rooney , District Environmental Officer

On Thursday 27th August 2020 President Geoff Sampson welcomed 16 Club Rotarians and guest speaker Alan Farquharson and guests and potential new members Scott Galloway and David Cooper to this lunch time meeting held by ZOOM.

Our speaker armed with many slides this week was Rotarian Malcolm Rooney also a Paul Harris fellow a member of Kirriemuir Rotary is Rotary Environment Officer for District 1010. The primary objectives of his role in Rotary are to encourage Rotarians to promote environmental and sustainability projects and to be aware of and minimize their own personal environmental footprints. Members were advised that Climate Change and Global Warming were the critical issues facing the world today.  These issues impacted on every aspect of the lives of every person causing threats to the water supply, the food supply, to health, to global peace, to the global economy and to the quality of the earth’s soil and air. These threats were caused by rising sea levels, acidification of the oceans, population increase, affluence, and consumerism (increased car use and pollution), and extreme weather events. Malcolm explained that how we each choose to live can have a major contributing effect on the environment.  He encouraged Rotarians to think carefully about the world which will be left for today’s children; to consider changing our lifestyles by totally recycling, by careful consumerism, ie consideration of the effects of whatever we buy; to reduce food waste; to use only ‘clean’ cars; to purchase Fairtrade products. Malcolm mentioned the ESRAG website Environmental Sustainability Rotarian Action Group in particular the Great Britain September Clean which will take place from 11th -27th September and it was discussed that this was something our club and possibly the schools could get involved with, Each person should commit to making tomorrow’s world different from today’s -  it can only be for the good and benefit of all if each of us strives to maintain a good environment.

The Rotary vote of thanks was given by Brian Johnson.

President Geoff mentioned that he had been in touch with the Council concerning the Planter at the roundabout down at Morrison’s which had been removed, He had been advised that this had been damaged by a car and was away for repair.

This coming week Thursday 3rd September 2020 at 1pm on ZOOM we will be given a talk by Alison Irvine Chairperson of the Fife and Kinross Wildlife Trust.

The Rotary vote of thanks will be given by Iain Oates.

We had been asked by District if we would like to participate in the annual Gavel competition, the format of which would be a Quiz. We agreed to participate.

Lindsay Roy confirmed that part of our deposit for RYLA had been returned,

Wilna Roger had been in contact with the schools and in particular Interact, she had also been in touch with Elspeth at the Forth Bridges club about Interact and Rotakids,  A ZOOM meeting is being held o Wednesday.

If you were interested in supporting the community and international projects get in touch by Private message on The Rotary Club of Glenrothes Facebook page. You will be made most welcome.